Handbags born of theater, and necessity

THERE’S A STORY behind these bags — of upcycling, fashion, theater and giving back.

It’s also the story of Jen Kahn and how her company Scenery came to be.

Jen Kahn and a carload of discarded drops.

In 2015, Kahn and a friend road-tripped from New York to Maine. They browsed in a store selling handbags made from old sails. She and her friend had an aha! moment.

Kahn, a professional stage manager, started Scenery and now collects discarded or retired backdrops from all over the country. A Florida factory cuts and stitches them into simple, rectangular clutches. A portion of the proceeds helps take New York kids to see theater.

“The only thing more sad than closing a show is watching it get thrown out,” Kahn says. “I can’t stop shows from closing, but I can help their story live on and, in doing so, continue to give the gift of theater to many more.”

Scenery bags tagline: Take the Story With You.

Scenery bags ($30) are limited-edition, one-of-a-kind pieces. Inside each is a label identifying its show of origin. The inaugural batch came from The Desert Song, a 1926 operetta about Moroccans fighting French colonial rule. Drops from productions of Hairspray and Oklahoma! are next. The bags can be pre-ordered from the website. Doing so gives you a number and a place in line. When your number is reached, you can choose from either of two drops or defer to the next round.